Major works on iconic building helps to transform Salford skyline
In 2018 Salix Homes was given the green light by Salford City Council to carry out a major redevelopment project at the city’s Canon Green Campus.
With Willmott Dixon appointed as main contractor, Hamilton was tasked with the installation of a WBS A2 rated EWI system with a silicone finish to the upper floors and a clay brick slip finish to the ground floor to Canon Green Court, a 1960s style seven-storey residential building.
Located on West King Street, the block had distinctive blue balconies and its edgy look provided the backdrop for several gritty television dramas including ITV’s Prey and Channel 4’s No Offence.
The refurbishment included new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, sprinkler systems, exterior refacing and insulation. Hamilton worked with an established network of trusted material suppliers to ensure the external wall insulation system was the best fit solution.
The building had not benefitted from EWI before, so the addition of this high-quality insulation system would make a significant difference for residents – not only improving the look of the block, but also boosting its thermal efficiency.
After a number of contractors had completed their parts of the project, Hamilton was able to get started in May 2019. Less than a year later the Covid-19 pandemic struck and the country went into lockdown.
When sites reopened two months later there were strict protocols as to the number of people that could work together on scaffolding, with social distancing and testing procedures in place.
Hamilton Site Manager, Sam Greenwood, had to ensure everything was very carefully managed so that only small teams within the same “bubbles” worked together.
As the building was occupied throughout the project, every precaution had to be taken to ensure the safety of the residents and the 40-strong Hamilton team.
Sam Greenwood, who has been working at Hamilton for almost a decade, said:
It was great to work on this iconic building that has been such a recognisable part of the city’s skyline for more than 60 years.
It has been completely modernised and transformed from the inside out and, along with the rest of the extensive works carried out as part of the wider project, it has made a massive difference to the area.
The contract was severely affected by the pandemic and returning to work after the lockdown was complicated as there were so many more factors to take into consideration.
The safety of the residents and our teams, as well as the other trades working on site, was of paramount importance and everyone worked really hard to mitigate risk as much as possible.
I am incredibly proud to have worked alongside so many fantastic colleagues from Hamilton
and Willmott Dixon to complete this work despite the challenging circumstances.
Simon Atkinson, Willmott Dixon’s Operations Manager, praised the Hamilton team’s commitment to quality and communication:
This was a complex project, especially with the restrictions introduced due to the pandemic.
Hamilton had to coordinate works in and around balconies and various accessible areas with other trades and ensure safe access for tenants and visitors.
The team communicated clearly and transparently, which helped things run smoothly.
Regular morning site meetings between Hamilton and Willmott Dixon established which subcontractors would be working where, so that works could be planned in sequence.
The project was finished to an exceptional standard of quality, with no defects reported at the 12-month check, or at all since completion.
This is testament to the first-class work and service we know we can rely on from Hamilton.
As part of the project, Hamilton also installed the same EWI system to the neighbouring three-storey Westminster House.
Along with the full redevelopment of Canon Green Court and external improvements to Westminster House, the overall project also included 108 affordable homes in a new-build 11-storey block, with the entire project having a value of £23M.
Salix Homes worked alongside residents, Willmott Dixon, civil engineers Elluc, and architects Corstorphine and Wright to develop proposals to renovate the building and create much-needed new homes in the area.
At the start of the project Lee Sugden, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, described it as the largest affordable housing development in the area and an ambitious scheme that would “make a valuable contribution to delivering the high quality, affordable homes that Salford desperately needs.”
Hamilton, Willmott Dixon and a host of other trusted suppliers have helped Salix Homes deliver on their promise to existing residents to refurbish their homes and create modern apartments fit for the future.
